Crown Colonies (Growth of Cotton).

asked if the Under-Secretary could give any estimate or particulars of the extent of land in the Crown Colonies which is considered to be suitable for the growth of cotton, so far as the soil and climate were concerned?

The latest readily available document containing information as to districts in which it may be possible to grow cotton is Professor Dunstan's Report to the Board of Trade of 1904 (Cd. 2020). It would take a considerable time to make even an approximate estimate of the area of suitable land in Crown Colonies, etc., which may ultimately be made available, but the recent report on British Cotton Cultivation (Cd. 3997) of 1908, shows that cotton of good quality can be grown in a large number of British possessions.

I shall be very glad to lay papers on the subject if there is any general wish that it shall be done. I may say that the Colonial Office have taken the deepest interest in this matter for many years past, and we have conferences monthly about it.